Rev. Walt Marcum is an ordained elder in the North Texas Annual Conference who has worked in the local church since 1968.  He is a graduate of McMurry College in Abilene, Texas and Perkins School of Theology in Dallas.  He served as a pastor for 12 years before going on staff as an associate minister in youth ministry in 1986.  He is currently in his 14th year at Highland Park and his title is Minister to Youth & Families.  He is directly responsible for administering our 6th grade confirmation program, does pastoral care with youth and youth families, and assists in several of our worship services as liturgist and preacher. Rev. Marcum is a student of the Bible and early church history and teaches in the Academy of Christian Studies.  He is married to Barbara Marcum, who is also an ordained elder in the North Texas Annual Conference and who also serves at Highland Park United Methodist Church as the head of the Pastoral Care Department. Barbara and Walt have one child, Melissa, who is currently in college.  Rev. Marcum has written extensively in the area of youth ministry, has authored nine and is the author of the United Methodist Church’s confirmation curriculum.

Rev. Linda Roby grew up in Chicago and received her undergraduate degree in elementary education from Southern Methodist University in 1975. She and her husband Frank have been married 31 years and have raised three children, Shannon, Clay and Daniel in the Lake Highlands area. They have been active members of Highland Park Methodist Church since 1974. After more than 20 years of experience in community organizations, Rev. Roby realized she could best live out her faith in fulltime professional ministry. She attended Perkins School of Theology and graduated with a masters in religious education in 2000. She is now a deacon in the United Methodist Church. Rev. Roby is currently the minister of missions and outreach for Highland Park United Methodist Church, overseeing local and global mission projects. Prior to her current appointment, Rev. Roby started new adult Sunday school classes while attending Perkins, and served full time as the director of the adult education department following graduation from Perkins, until taking the position with Highland Park United Methodist Church in June 2001.